Neighbors discuss Kern controversy

By Audrey Esther, News9.com INsite Team

Rep. Sally Kern has received more than 10,000 e-mails in response to her anti-gay comments posted last week on YouTube.

In her own district, reaction to Kern's comments was mixed Tuesday. News9.com spoke with some of her constituents, including her neighbors, about the controversy. 

Complete Coverage Exclusive interview YouTube Video Kern won't apologize

Before today, Steven and Robin Taplin weren't aware that their neighbor, Kern, had made national news until News9.com showed them the YouTube clip that's been watched more than 500,000 times.

"I feel that if you bash one group of what may be considered a minority that could be any one of us," Robin Taplin said. "You could be bashing blacks."

District 84 is located in northwest Oklahoma City near Bethany. Kern was first elected to office in 2004 and won by almost 68 percent of the vote. In 2006 she ran again unopposed.  Kern said Monday she plans to take this issue as far as it goes and will not apologize for her statements.

"If it costs me my seat that's OK," she said. "I'm going to stand up for what is right."

Oklahoma City resident, Holly Smart said, like Kern, she too is conservative and agrees with Kern on some issues but said the Representative went about it the wrong way.

"A sin is a sin and if that's the way you feel, but I don't think it's right to come out and compare someone with a terrorist," she said.